Information processing device, information processing method, and program

ABSTRACT

There is provided an information processing device including an analysis unit configured to analyze a character string indicating contents of utterance obtained as a result of speech recognition, and a display control unit configured to display the character string indicating the contents of the utterance and an analysis result on a display screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/386,260, filed on Jul. 27, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/523,675, filed on Jul. 26, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/648,890, filed on Jun. 1,2015, and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority toInternational Application No. PCT/JP2013/081312, filed on Nov. 20, 2013and from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-287357 filed onDec. 28, 2012. The entire contents of each of these applications areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, aninformation processing method, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

A device capable of recognizing voice to perform a process has been 15produced. A technology using voice input has been also developed. As atechnology using both voice input and another input, there is, forexample, a technology described in Patent Literature 1 below.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP 2001-166914A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

For example, in a preexisting device capable of recognizing voice toperform a process (hereinafter, also referred to merely as “preexistingdevice”), such as a case of using the technology described in PatentLiterature 1, a user cannot know which part of contents of utterance isrecognized to be used for performing a process. Therefore, in a case inwhich the preexisting device is used, there is a possibility that asituation that may reduce usability for a user happens, such as asituation in which “a behavior performed in the device in response tovoice utterance is not satisfactorily transmitted to a user”.

The present disclosure proposes an information processing device, aninformation processing method, and a program, each of which is new,improved, and capable of improving usability for a user.

Solution to Problem

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an informationprocessing device including an analysis unit configured to analyze acharacter string indicating contents of utterance obtained as a resultof speech recognition, and a display control unit configured to displaythe character string indicating the contents of the utterance and ananalysis result on a display screen.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an informationprocessing method including a step of analyzing a character stringindicating contents of utterance obtained as a result of speechrecognition, and a step of displaying the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance and an analysis result on a displayscreen.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a program forcausing a computer to execute a step of analyzing a character stringindicating contents of utterance obtained as a result of speechrecognition, and a step of displaying the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance and an analysis result on a displayscreen.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve usabilityfor a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating outline of a processrelated to an information processing method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a first example of the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a second example of the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of a dictionaryfor action analysis according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of analysisresults according to the embodiment and corresponding applications andservices.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a third example of the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of a dictionaryfor score adjustment according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of a dictionaryfor tense analysis according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configurationof an information processing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of the information processing device according to theembodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of aninformation processing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a processin the information processing system according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the drawings, elements that have substantiallythe same function and structure are denoted with the same referencesigns, and repeated explanation is omitted.

Hereinafter, the description will be made in the following order.

-   -   1. Information processing method according to embodiment    -   2. Information processing device according to embodiment    -   3. Information processing system according to embodiment    -   4. Program according to embodiment

(Information Processing Method According to Embodiment)

Before the configuration of an information processing device accordingto an embodiment is described, an information processing methodaccording to the embodiment will be first described. Hereinafter, theinformation processing method according to the embodiment will bedescribed exemplifying a case in which the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment performs a process related to theinformation processing method according to the embodiment.

[1] Outline of Information Processing Method According to Embodiment

As described above, in a case in which a preexisting device is used, auser cannot know which part of contents of utterance is recognized to beused for performing a process. Therefore, in a case in which thepreexisting device is used, there is a possibility that a situation thatmay reduce usability for a user happens, such as a situation in which “abehavior performed in the device in response to voice utterance is notsatisfactorily transmitted to a user”.

In view of this, the information processing device according to theembodiment analyzes a character string of contents of utterance obtainedas a result of speech recognition (hereinafter, also referred to merelyas “character string of contents of utterance”) (analysis process).Then, the information processing device according to the embodimentdisplays the character string of the contents of the utterance and ananalysis result on a display screen (display control process).

Here, the information processing device according to the embodimentperforms a process related to speech recognition on, for example, voicedata showing contents of utterance, thereby obtaining a character stringof the contents of the utterance to be processed. However, a method ofacquiring the character string of the contents of the utterance to beprocessed according to the embodiment is not limited to the foregoingexample. For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment may acquire, from an external device such as a server, datashowing the character string of the contents of the utterance obtainedas a result of a process related to speech recognition in the externaldevice, thereby obtaining the character string of the contents of theutterance to be processed.

Examples of the process related to the speech recognition according tothe embodiment include a process using a statistical method and aprocess using the hidden Markov model. However, the process related tothe speech recognition according to the embodiment is not limited to theforegoing examples. For example, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment or an external device such as a server canuse an arbitrary process through which the character string of thecontents of the utterance can be obtained from the voice data showingthe contents of the utterance.

An example of the display screen that is caused to display the characterstring of the contents of the utterance and the analysis result by theinformation processing device according to the embodiment includes adisplay unit (described below) included in own device (informationprocessing device according to the embodiment). However, the displayscreen that is caused to display the character string of the contents ofthe utterance and the analysis result by the information processingdevice according to the embodiment is not limited to the foregoingexample. For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment may display the character string of the contents of theutterance and the analysis result on a display screen of a displaydevice included in an external device connected via a wired or wirelessnetwork.

Because the information processing device according to the embodimentdisplays the character string of the contents of the utterance obtainedas a result of the speech recognition on the display screen, a user whohas performed the utterance can visually grasp how the utterance hasbeen subjected to the speech recognition.

Because the information processing device according to the embodimentdisplays the analysis result of the character string of the contents ofthe utterance together with the character string of the contents of theutterance, a user who has performed the utterance can visually grasp howthe utterance has been analyzed. Therefore, a user who has performed theutterance can grasp which part of the contents of the utterance has beenrecognized to be used for a process that is performed in a device (forexample, the information processing device according to the embodimentor a device whose action is controlled by the information processingdevice according to the embodiment) in response to the utterance.

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs(1) analysis process and (2) display control process as a processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment, and therefore it is possible to improve usability of a user.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating outline of the processrelated to the information processing method according to the embodimentand illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the display screenby the information processing device according to the embodiment.

A of FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a selection screen of anapplication for a television receiver, and A1 of FIG. 1 indicates anexample of an icon for selecting an application that a user uses toperform speech recognition.

In a case in which the icon indicated by A1 of FIG. 1 is selected on thescreen illustrated in A of FIG. 1 by, for example, user operation, anexecution screen of the application that a user uses to perform thespeech recognition is displayed as illustrated in, for example, B ofFIG. 1 .

In a case in which a user performs utterance with respect to a voiceinput device such as a microphone on the screen illustrated in B of FIG.1 , the information processing device according to the embodimentperforms the process (1) (analysis process) related to the informationprocessing method according to the embodiment on the basis of datashowing a character string of contents of the utterance. Then, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment performs theprocess (2) (display control process) related to the informationprocessing method according to the embodiment and therefore displays ascreen on which both the character string of the contents of theutterance and an analysis result are displayed as illustrated in, forexample, C of FIG. 1 .

Here, C of FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the screen displayed in acase in which a user utters “Ashita no XXX ga mitai” (I want to watchtomorrow's XXX). As illustrated in C1 in FIG. 1 , the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment, for example, displays acharacter string indicating contents of utterance “Ashita no XXX gamitai” (I want to watch tomorrow's XXX) and further displays an analysisresult.

C of FIG. 1 illustrates an example where the information processingdevice according to the embodiment emphasizes the analysis result of thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance with the useof quotation marks. However, a method of displaying the analysis resultaccording to the embodiment is not limited to the foregoing example. Forexample, the information processing device according to the embodimentmay display the analysis result of the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance so that the analysis result is emphasized withan arbitrary method that is capable of visually changing characters,such as underlining the characters or changing color or a font of thecharacters.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayperform the process (2) (display control process) related to theinformation processing method according to the embodiment as illustratedin, for example, C2 in C of FIG. 1 , thereby displaying an applicationcorresponding to the contents of the utterance and/or a servicecorresponding to the contents of the utterance on the display screen.

Here, examples of the application corresponding to the contents of theutterance according to the embodiment include various applications suchas an application for displaying a program table of televisionbroadcasting, an application related to viewing of televisionbroadcasting, an application for displaying a list of recorded content,an application related to playback of content recorded on a recordingmedium, and an application for establishing connection to a network suchas a home network. Examples of the service corresponding to the contentsof the utterance according to the embodiment include various servicessuch as a video service, a music service, a service provided by an imageposting website, and a search service provided by a search site or thelike.

In a case in which, for example, “TV program” illustrated in C2 in C ofFIG. 1 is selected, a screen corresponding to a selected application ora selected service is displayed as illustrated in, for example, D ofFIG. 1 .

The information processing device according to the embodiment displaysthe character string indicating the contents of the utterance and theanalysis result on the display screen as illustrated in, for example, C1in C of FIG. 1 . Therefore, for example, a user who looks at the screenillustrated in C of FIG. 1 can visually grasp how the utterance has beensubjected to speech recognition on the basis of the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance and can also visually grasp howthe utterance has been analyzed because the analysis result is displayedto be emphasized with the use of quotation marks or the like.

Therefore, the information processing device according to the embodimentcan improve usability for a user. It is needless to say that the screenthat is displayed, through the process related to the informationprocessing method according to the embodiment, by the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment is not limited to theexample illustrated in C of FIG. 1 and the screen displayed by theinformation processing device according to the embodiment is not limitedto the examples illustrated in A of FIG. 1 , B of FIG. 1 , and D of FIG.1 .

[2] Example of Process Related to Information Processing MethodAccording to Embodiment

Next, the process related to the information processing method accordingto the embodiment in the information processing device according to theembodiment will be described more specifically. As described above, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment performs, forexample, the process (1) (analysis process) and the process (2) (displaycontrol process) as the process related to the information processingmethod according to the embodiment.

(1) Analysis Process

The information processing device according to the embodiment analyzes acharacter string indicating contents of utterance obtained as a resultof speech recognition.

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs,for example, morphological analysis with the use of a dictionary forsyntactic analysis stored in a storage unit (described below) or anexternal recording medium to divide the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance into words such as a noun and a verb. Here,the dictionary according to the embodiment may be, for example, adatabase format data or may be table format data.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayfurther perform, for example, semantic analysis (or intention analysis)on the character string indicating the contents of the utterance withthe use of a dictionary for semantic analysis stored in the storage unit(described below) or an external recording medium.

Note that the process (1) (analysis process) according to the embodimentis not limited to the foregoing examples.

For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment may set a score with respect to the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance on the basis of a result of thesyntactic analysis of the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance or on the basis of the result of the syntactic analysisand a result of the semantic analysis of the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance.

Here, the information processing device according to the embodiment setsa score with respect to each word divided by, for example, themorphological analysis. More specifically, for example, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment sets a reference scorewith respect to each divided word and adjusts the score set with respectto each divided word, thereby setting a score corresponding to eachdivided word. An example of a process related to setting of a scoreaccording to the embodiment will be described below.

The score set in the process (1) (analysis process) is used in, forexample, an execution process according to the embodiment to bedescribed below. The example of the process related to the setting ofthe score according to the embodiment and an example of a process inwhich the set score is used will be described below.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayperform, for example, action analysis on the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance. The information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment performs the action analysis on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance by, forexample, determining, with the use of a dictionary for action analysisstored in the storage unit (described below) or an external recordingmedium, whether or not a word indicating an action registered in thedictionary for action analysis is included in words divided by themorphological analysis or the like.

A result of the action analysis in the process (1) (analysis process) isused in, for example, the process (2) (display control process). Anexample of a process in which the result of the action analysis is usedin the process (2) (display control process) will be described below.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayperform, for example, tense analysis on the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance. The information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment performs the tense analysis on the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance by determining, forexample, with the use of a dictionary for tense analysis stored in thestorage unit (described below) or an external recording medium, whetheror not a word indicating tense registered in the dictionary for tenseanalysis is included in the words divided by the morphological analysisor the like.

A result of the tense analysis in the process (1) (analysis process) isused in, for example, the execution process according to the embodimentto be described below. An example of a process in which the result ofthe tense analysis is used in the execution process according to theembodiment to be described below will be described below.

In the words divided by the morphological analysis or the like,fluctuation of speech recognition exists in some cases. The fluctuationof the speech recognition according to the embodiment indicates that,for example, “a word that should be expressed by a particular Chinesecharacter (Kanji) is expressed by Japanese syllabary (Hiragana)” and “ina case in which an abbreviated name of a word is uttered instead of anofficial name thereof, a divided word becomes the abbreviated name”. Ina case in which the fluctuation of the speech recognition describedabove occurs, there is a possibility that, for example, in the executionprocess according to the embodiment to be described below, the processcannot be normally performed or a process result desired by a usercannot be obtained.

In view of this, the information processing device according to theembodiment may correct the fluctuation of the speech recognition inorder to prevent, for example, the foregoing situation in which theprocess cannot be normally performed. The information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment corrects the fluctuation of the speechrecognition by, for example, replacing a word divided by themorphological analysis or the like with the use of a dictionary forfluctuation absorption stored in the storage unit (described below) oran external recording medium.

In a case in which the information processing device according to theembodiment corrects the fluctuation of the speech recognition in theprocess (1) (analysis process), the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance in which the fluctuation of the speechrecognition has been corrected is displayed on the screen that isdisplayed in the process (2) (display control process).

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs,for example, one or two or more processes among the foregoing processesas the analysis process according to the embodiment. It is needless tosay that the analysis process according to the embodiment is not limitedto the examples of the processes described above.

(2) Display Control Process

The information processing device according to the embodiment displaysthe character string indicating the contents of the utterance and theanalysis result in the process (1) (analysis process) on the displayscreen. Here, the information processing device according to theembodiment displays the character string indicating the contents of theutterance and the analysis result so as to emphasize the analysis resultas illustrated in, for example, C1 in C of FIG. 1 .

For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment may display the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance on the display screen so that the character string iseditable. In the information processing device according to theembodiment, for example, it is possible to edit the entire characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance or each word, divided bythe morphological analysis or the like, in the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance.

Here, the information processing device according to the embodimentallows a user to edit the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance through, for example, input operation with the use of aninput device such as a keyboard or a virtual input device such as asoftware keyboard. Note that a method of editing the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance according to the embodiment isnot limited to the foregoing example. For example, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment allows a user to edit thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance through theuser's utterance.

In a case in which, for example, the process related to the speechrecognition is performed, an error may exist in a result of the speechrecognition due to misrecognition. In a preexisting device, the processis performed without doing anything on the basis of a misrecognizedresult and the process therefore needs to be retried, and, at the timeof retry, a user needs to perform utterance again. Further, as describedabove, in a case in which the preexisting device is used, a user cannotknow which part of the contents of the utterance is recognized to beused for performing the process. Furthermore, even if the utterance isperformed again in the preexisting device, misrecognition may occuragain and therefore a situation that may reduce usability for a user mayoccur, such as a situation in which a user needs to perform utterancemany times to achieve an action desired by the user.

On the contrary, the information processing device according to theembodiment displays the character string indicating the contents of theutterance on the display screen as described above, and therefore a userwho has performed the utterance can visually grasp misrecognition of thespeech recognition. The information processing device according to theembodiment displays the character string indicating the contents of theutterance on the display screen so that the character string iseditable, and therefore, even if an error exists in the character stringof the contents of the utterance obtained as a result of the speechrecognition, the user can correct the error and can cause theinformation processing device according to the embodiment (or externaldevice) to perform, for example, the execution process to be describedbelow.

Thus, by displaying the character string indicating the contents of theutterance so that the character string is editable, for example, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment can encouragethe user to correct the contents of the utterance and can cause owndevice (information processing device according to the embodiment) or anexternal device to perform the process more accurately. Further, bydisplaying the character string indicating the contents of the utteranceso that the character string is editable, for example, a situation inwhich the user needs to perform utterance many times to achieve anaction desired by the user is prevented, and therefore, usability forthe user is improved.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayfurther display an application corresponding to the contents of theutterance and/or a service corresponding to the contents of theutterance on the display screen on the basis of the analysis result inthe process (1) (analysis process) as illustrated in, for example, C2 inC of FIG. 1 .

Here, the information processing device according to the embodimentdetermines, for example, candidates of applications to be displayed onthe display screen and/or candidates of services to be displayed on thedisplay screen on the basis of performance information. Then, forexample, the information processing device according to the embodimentselects an application and/or service corresponding to the analysisresult in the process (1) (analysis process) from the determinedcandidates of the applications and/or the determined candidates of theservices and displays the selected application and/or service on thedisplay screen.

An example of the performance information according to the embodimentincludes data showing performance that a device has (for example, datashowing a function that the device has and data showing performance ofeach function). Here, an example of the performance information that theinformation processing device according to the embodiment uses in theprocess includes performance information of own device (informationprocessing device according to the embodiment) or an external devicewhose function is controlled by the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment. Hereinafter, a device corresponding toperformance information that the information processing device accordingto the embodiment uses in the process, i.e., a device whose function iscontrolled by the information processing device according to theembodiment is also referred to as “device to be controlled”.

The information processing device according to the embodiment may, forexample, determine the candidates of the applications to be displayed onthe display screen and/or the candidates of the services to be displayedon the display screen among a list of the applications and/or servicescorresponding to the analysis result in the process (1) (analysisprocess) on the basis of the performance information. In the foregoingcase, the information processing device according to the embodimentdisplays the determined candidates of the applications and/or thedetermined candidates of the services on the display screen.

In a case in which the application corresponding to the contents of theutterance and/or the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance are/is displayed as illustrated in, for example, C2 in C ofFIG. 1 , the information processing device according to the embodimentmay display the application and/or the service so that the applicationand/or the service are/is emphasized.

Here, as a method of emphasizing the application and/or serviceaccording to the embodiment, for example, display order of theapplication and the service is adjusted so that an application and/orservice to be emphasized are placed higher in the list of theapplication and service illustrated in C2 in C of FIG. 1 . Note that themethod of emphasizing the application and/or service according to theembodiment is not limited to the foregoing example. For example, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment may displaythe application and/or service so that the application and/or serviceare/is emphasized with an arbitrary method that is capable of visuallychanging the application and/or service. The arbitrary method is, forexample, providing an icon (for example, microphone icon) indicatingthat the application and/or service are/is an application and/or servicerelated to the analysis result of the contents of the utterance,providing an icon indicating that the application and/or the serviceare/is recommended, or changing color or a font of characters.

For example, in a case in which the action analysis is performed on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance in the process(1) (analysis process), the information processing device according tothe embodiment emphasizes an application and/or service on the displayscreen on the basis of a result of the action analysis included in theanalysis result.

More specifically, in a case in which the result of the action analysisperformed on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance indicates a watching action such as “want to watch”, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment emphasizesapplications and services related to viewing, such as an application fordisplaying a program table of television broadcasting, an applicationrelated to viewing of television broadcasting, an application fordisplaying a list of recorded content, an application related toplayback of content stored in a recording medium, a video service, and aservice provided by an image posting website. In a case in which theresult of the action analysis performed on the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance indicates a listening actionsuch as “want to listen”, the information processing device according tothe embodiment emphasizes applications and services related to playbackof voice (including music), such as an application related to playbackof content stored in a recording medium and a music service.

In a case in which the result of the action analysis performed on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance indicates noparticular action, the information processing device according to theembodiment may emphasize, for example, a set application or service suchas a search service provided by a search site or the like.

The information processing device according to the embodiment emphasizesthe application and/or service displayed on the display screen, forexample, as described above.

Note that the process related to emphasizing of the application and/orthe service according to the embodiment is not limited to the foregoingexample. For example, in a case in which a priority degree is set withrespect to each application and service according to the embodiment, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment may display anapplication and/or service having a higher priority degree so that theapplication and/or service are/is emphasized more clearly among theemphasized application and service.

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs,for example, the foregoing process as the display control processaccording to the embodiment. It is needless to say that the displaycontrol process according to the embodiment is not limited to theexample of the process described above.

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs,for example, the process (1) (analysis process) and the process (2)(display control process) described above as the process related to theinformation processing method according to the embodiment.

Note that the process related to the information processing methodaccording to the embodiment is not limited to the process (1) (analysisprocess) and the process (2) (display control process).

For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment may execute a process related to an application correspondingto the contents of the utterance or a service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance selected on a screen, such as the screenillustrated in C of FIG. 1 , on which the application corresponding tothe contents of the utterance and the service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance are displayed (execution process).

More specifically, the information processing device according to theembodiment performs, for example, a process (a), a process (b), or aprocess (c) to be described below as the execution process according tothe embodiment. Note that specific examples of the execution processaccording to the embodiment will be described below.

(a) First Example of Execution Process According to Embodiment

In a case in which, for example, the setting of the score is performedon the character string indicating the contents of the utterance in theprocess (1) (analysis process), the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment determines, on the basis of a result ofcomparison between a set reference value and the set score, a part orall of the character string indicating the contents of the utterance asa character string for use in execution of the application correspondingto the contents of the utterance or execution of the process related tothe service corresponding to the contents of the utterance. Then, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment executes theapplication corresponding to the contents of the utterance or theprocess related to the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance with the use of the determined character string.

Here, the reference value according to the embodiment may be, forexample, a fixed value that has been set in advance or may be a variablevalue that can be changed based on user operation or the like.

More specifically, for example, in a case in which a score larger thanthe reference value (or a score equal to or larger than the referencevalue; the same applies to the following description) does not exist inthe character string indicating the contents of the utterance, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment uses theentire character string indicating the contents of the utterance in theprocess. Meanwhile, for example, in a case in which a score larger thanthe reference value exists in the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance, the information processing device accordingto the embodiment uses, in the process, one or two or more parts of thecharacter string having a large score/large scores among the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance.

(b) Second Example of Execution Process According to Embodiment

For example, in a case in which the tense analysis is performed on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance in the process(1) (analysis process), the information processing device according tothe embodiment selectively uses, in the process, wording indicatingtense included in the character string indicating the contents of theutterance on the basis of a result of the tense analysis. Morespecifically, in a case in which the result of the tense analysisindicates that wording indicating tense is included in the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance in the foregoing case,the information processing device according to the embodiment uses, inthe process, the wording indicating the tense included in the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance.

(c) Third Example of Execution Process According to Embodiment

The information processing device according to the embodiment can alsoperform, for example, a process in which the process according to thefirst example is combined with the process according to the secondexample.

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs,for example, the process (a), the process (b), or the process (c)described above as the execution process according to the embodiment.

The process related to the information processing method according tothe embodiment is not limited to “the process (1) (analysis process) andthe process (2) (display control process)” and “the process (1)(analysis process), the process (2) (display control process), and theexecution process”.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayrecord, for example, the analysis result in the process (1) (analysisprocess) as a log (log recording control process).

Here, examples of a target on which the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment records the log include the storage unit(described below), an external recording medium connected to theinformation processing device according to the embodiment, and anexternal device communicable via a network (or directly). Examples ofthe network according to the embodiment include a wired network such asa local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), a wirelessnetwork such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a wireless widearea network (WWAN) via a base station, and the Internet using acommunication protocol such as Transmission Control Protocol/InternetProtocol (TCP/IP).

Because the information processing device according to the embodimentrecords the analysis result as the log, a device for performing aprocess related to speech recognition (for example, informationprocessing device according to the embodiment or external device such asa server) can use the log in order to, for example, improve accuracy ofspeech recognition or improve a behavior of an application.

[3] Specific Example of Process Related to Information Processing MethodAccording to Embodiment

Next, a specific example of the process related to the informationprocessing method according to the embodiment will be described.Hereinafter, the description will be made assuming that the processrelated to the information processing method according to the embodimentis performed by the information processing device according to theembodiment.

(A) First Example of Process Related to Information Processing MethodAccording to Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a first example of the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment. Here, for example, processes in Steps S104 and S106illustrated in FIG. 2 correspond to the process (1) (analysis process),and a process in Step S108 illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds to theprocess (2) (display control process). FIG. 2 illustrates an examplewhere the information processing device according to the embodimentperforms a process related to speech recognition on voice data showingcontents of utterance. Note that, as described above, the processrelated to the speech recognition performed on the voice data showingthe contents of the utterance may be performed in an external devicesuch as a server.

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not voice is detected (S100). For example, in a case in whichthe information processing device receives voice data showing contentsof utterance transmitted from the voice input device such as amicrophone, the information processing device according to theembodiment determines that the voice is detected.

In a case in which it is not determined that the voice is detected inStep S100, the information processing device according to the embodimentdoes not advance a process until it is determined that the voice isdetected.

In a case in which it is determined that the voice is detected in StepS100, the information processing device according to the embodimentperforms a process related to speech recognition on the voice data(S102). The information processing device according to the embodimentperforms, as the process related to the speech recognition, for example,a process using a statistical method or a process using the hiddenMarkov model.

The information processing device according to the embodiment analyzes acharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance obtained fromthe process of Step S102 (S104). Here, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment performs, for example, the syntacticanalysis and the semantic analysis on the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance.

When the process of Step S104 is performed, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment corrects fluctuation of the speechrecognition (S106). The information processing device according to theembodiment corrects the fluctuation of the speech recognition by, forexample, replacing a word divided by the morphological analysis or thelike with the use of the dictionary for fluctuation absorption stored inthe storage unit (described below) or the like.

When the process of Step S106 is performed, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment displays the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance and an analysis result in StepS104 on the display screen (S108). The information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment displays the analysis result of thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance so that theanalysis result is emphasized with respect to the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance as illustrated in, for example,C1 in C of FIG. 1 .

The information processing device according to the embodiment performsthe process as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 2 as the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment. By performing the process illustrated in, for example, FIG.2 , the process (1) (analysis process) and the process (2) (displaycontrol process) related to the information processing method accordingto the embodiment are achieved.

Therefore, by performing the process illustrated in, for example, FIG. 2, the information processing device according to the embodiment canimprove usability for a user.

Note that the process related to the information processing methodaccording to the first example of the embodiment is not limited to theexample illustrated in FIG. 2 .

For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment does not necessarily need to the process of Step S106 in FIG.2 . For example, even in a case in which the process of Step S106 is notperformed, the information processing device according to the embodimentcan perform the process (1) (analysis process) and the process (2)(display control process) related to the information processing methodaccording to the embodiment. Therefore, even in a case in which, forexample, the process of Step S106 is not performed, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment can improve usability fora user.

(B) Second Example of Process Related to Information Processing MethodAccording to Embodiment

The process related to the information processing method according tothe embodiment is not limited to the process according to the firstexample. As illustrated in, for example, C2 in C of FIG. 1 , in theprocess (2) (display control process) according to the embodiment, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment may furtherdisplay, for example, an application corresponding to the contents ofthe utterance and/or a service corresponding to the contents of theutterance on the display screen on the basis of the analysis result inthe process (1) (analysis process).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a second example of the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a process performed in acase in which the information processing device according to theembodiment further displays the application corresponding to thecontents of the utterance and/or the service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance on the display screen. Here, for example, aprocess of Step S208 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the process (1) (analysisprocess), and a process of Step S210 in FIG. 3 corresponds to theprocess (2) (display control process). For example, the processaccording to the second example illustrated in FIG. 3 may be performedin parallel with the process according to the first example illustratedin FIG. 2 or may be performed after the process according to the firstexample illustrated in FIG. 2 is performed.

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not performance information of a device to be controlled isacquired (S200). In a case in which it is determined that theperformance information of the device to be controlled is acquired inStep S200, the information processing device according to the embodimentperforms a process of Step S204 to be described below.

In a case in which it is not determined that the performance informationof the device to be controlled is acquired in Step S200, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment acquires the performanceinformation from the device to be controlled (S202). For example, in acase in which the device to be controlled according to the embodiment isown device (information processing device according to the embodiment),the information processing device according to the embodiment generatesperformance information to acquire the performance information.Meanwhile, for example, in a case in which the device to be controlledaccording to the embodiment is an external device, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment transmits a performanceinformation transmission request including a transmission command forinstructing transmission of performance information to the externaldevice to acquire the performance information.

In a case in which it is determined that the performance information ofthe device to be controlled is acquired in Step S200 or in a case inwhich the performance information of the device to be controlled isacquired through the process of Step S202, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment specifies an application or servicecorresponding to the device to be controlled among a list ofapplications and services on the basis of, for example, the performanceinformation (S204).

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not a character string indicating contents of utterance isacquired (S206). In a case in which it is not determined that thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance is acquired inStep S206, the information processing device according to the embodimentdoes not advance the process until, for example, it is determined thatthe character string indicating the contents of the utterance isacquired.

In a case in which it is determined that the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance is acquired in Step S206, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment performs the actionanalysis on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance (S208). The information processing device according to theembodiment performs the action analysis on the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance by determining, for example,with the use of the dictionary for action analysis stored in the storageunit (described below), whether or not a word indicating an actionregistered in the dictionary for action analysis is included in thewords divided by the morphological analysis or the like in the processof Step S104 in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of the dictionaryfor action analysis according to the embodiment. Here, in FIG. 4 , wordsare indicated as “Keyword” and actions are indicated as “Type”. Aillustrated in FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the dictionary foraction analysis in a table format in which English words and actions areassociated with each other, and B illustrated in FIG. 4 illustrates anexample of the dictionary for action analysis in a table format in whichJapanese words and actions are associated with each other. FIG. 4illustrates the examples in each of which each word in the dictionaryfor action analysis is associated with information indicating a part ofspeech.

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not a word indicating an action registered in the dictionaryfor action analysis illustrated in FIG. 4 is included in the wordsdivided by, for example, the morphological analysis. In a case in whichit is determined that the word is included therein, an actioncorresponding to the word is specified as an action indicated by thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance and thereforethe action in the character string indicating the contents of theutterance is analyzed.

It is needless to say that the process related to the action analysisperformed on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance according to the embodiment is not limited to the foregoingexample and the dictionary for action analysis according to theembodiment is not limited to the examples illustrated in FIG. 4 .

Referring back to FIG. 3 , the second example of the process related tothe information processing method according to the embodiment will bedescribed. When the process of Step S208 is performed, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment displays a correspondingapplication or service so that the corresponding application or serviceis emphasized on the basis of a result of the action analysis in theprocess of Step S208 (S210).

For example, in a case in which the result of the action analysisperformed on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance in Step S208 indicates a watching action such as “want towatch”, the information processing device according to the embodimentemphasizes an application and/or service related to viewing, such as anapplication for displaying a program table of television broadcasting.In a case in which the result of the action analysis performed on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance in Step S208indicates a listening action such as “want to listen”, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment emphasizes an applicationand/or service related to playback of voice (including music), such asan application related to playback of content stored in a recordingmedium. In a case in which the result of the action analysis performedon the character string indicating the contents of the utterance in StepS208 indicates no particular operation, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment may emphasize a set application orservice such as a search service provided by a search site.

For example, an application and a service to be preferentially displayedmay be set in the result of the action analysis performed on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance in Step S208.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of analysisresults according to the embodiment and corresponding applications andservices. Here, in FIG. 5 , the analysis results are indicated as “Tenseor Action Type” and the corresponding applications and services areindicated as “High Priority Category”. FIG. 5 illustrates examples of atable in which the analysis results and the applications and theservices are associated with each other. A illustrated in FIG. 5illustrates an example of results of the tense analysis and applicationsand services corresponding to the results of the tense analysis. B ofFIG. 5 illustrates an example of results of the action analysis andapplications and services corresponding to the results of the actionanalysis. C illustrated in FIG. 5 illustrates an example of acorresponding application or service displayed in a case in whichneither tense nor an action is included in the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance as a result of the tenseanalysis and the action analysis.

By referring to the table illustrated in, for example, FIG. 5 , theinformation processing device according to the embodiment specifies anapplication and/or service corresponding to the result of the actionanalysis performed on the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance in Step S208. Then, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment preferentially displays, for example, thespecified application and/or service on the display screen.

The information processing device according to the embodiment mayperform, as the process related to the information processing methodaccording to the embodiment, for example, the process illustrated inFIG. 3 in parallel with the process according to the first exampleillustrated in FIG. 2 or may perform the process illustrated in FIG. 3after the process according to the first example illustrated in FIG. 2is performed.

Therefore, for example, by performing the process illustrated in FIG. 3, the information processing device according to the embodiment canfurther display the application corresponding to the contents of theutterance and/or the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance on the display screen on the basis of the analysis result inthe process (1) (analysis process) as illustrated in, for example, C2 inC of FIG. 1 . It is needless to say that the process related to theinformation processing method according to the second example of theembodiment is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 3 .

(C) Third Example of Process Related to Information Processing MethodAccording to Embodiment

Note that the process related to the information processing methodaccording to the embodiment is not limited to the process according tothe first example or the process according to the second example. Forexample, the information processing device according to the embodimentcan further perform the execution process according to the embodimentdescribed above.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a third example of the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates an example where the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment performs, as the executionprocess according to the embodiment, a process related to searchingcontent with the use of the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance. Examples of the content searched by the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment in FIG. 6 include contentdata such as image data and voice data stored in a recording medium suchas an optical disk or a magnetic disk, a program of televisionbroadcasting, and various kinds of information and data obtained via asearch service on the Web.

Here, for example, processes of Steps S308 to S318 in FIG. 6 correspondto the process (1) (analysis process), and processes of Steps S314 andS320 to S324 in FIG. 6 correspond to the execution process. For example,the process according to the third example illustrated in FIG. 6 may beperformed in parallel with the process according to the first exampleillustrated in FIG. 2 or may be performed after the process according tothe first example illustrated in FIG. 2 is performed. Alternatively, forexample, the process according to the third example illustrated in FIG.6 may be performed in parallel with the process according to the secondexample illustrated in FIG. 3 .

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not performance information of a device to be controlled isacquired (S300). In a case in which it is determined that theperformance information of the device to be controlled is acquired inStep S300, the information processing device according to the embodimentperforms a process of Step S304 to be described below.

In a case in which it is not determined that the performance informationof the device to be controlled is acquired in Step S300, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment acquires the performanceinformation from the device to be controlled in the same way as StepS202 in FIG. 3 (S302).

In a case in which it is determined that the performance information ofthe device to be controlled is acquired in Step S300 or in a case inwhich the performance information of the device to be controlled isacquired through the process of Step S302, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment specifies an application and/orservice corresponding to the device to be controlled from a list ofapplications and services on the basis of the performance information(S304).

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not a character string indicating contents of utterance isacquired (S306). In a case in which it is not determined that thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance is acquired inStep S306, the information processing device according to the embodimentdoes not advance the process until, for example, it is determined thatthe character string indicating the contents of the utterance isacquired.

In a case in which it is determined that the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance is acquired in Step S306, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment sets a reference scorewith respect to the character string indicating the contents of theutterance (S308). Here, the information processing device according tothe embodiment sets a reference score “1” with respect to each dividedword divided by the morphological analysis or the like in the process ofStep S104 in FIG. 2 . For example, in a case in which the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance (or the character stringin which the fluctuation of the speech recognition has been corrected)is “Ashita no XXX ga mitai” (I want to watch tomorrow's XXX) illustratedin C of FIG. 1 , the information processing device according to theembodiment sets the reference score “1” with respect to each of thewords “Ashita”/“no”/“XXX”/“ga”/“mi”/“ta”/“i”. It is needless to say thatthe reference score according to the embodiment is not limited to “1”.

When the reference score is set in Step S308, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment adjusts the set reference score(S310). The information processing device according to the embodimentadjusts the set reference score with the use of, for example, thedictionary for score adjustment stored in the storage unit (describedbelow) or an external recording medium.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of the dictionaryfor score adjustment according to the embodiment. Here, in FIG. 7 ,words are indicated as “Keyword” and adjustment values for adjustingscores are indicated as “Additional Value”. A illustrated in FIG. 7illustrates an example of the dictionary for score adjustment in a tableformat in which English words and adjustment values are associated witheach other, and B illustrated in FIG. 7 illustrates an example of thedictionary for score adjustment in a table format in which Japanesewords and adjustment values are associated with each other.

The information processing device according to the embodiment specifiesan adjustment value corresponding to each word divided by themorphological analysis or the like in the process of Step S104 of FIG. 2by referring to, for example, the dictionary for score adjustmentillustrated in FIG. 7 . Then, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment adjusts the set reference score by, forexample, adding the adjustment value corresponding to each specifiedword to the reference score of the corresponding word.

For example, in a case in which the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance (or the character string in which thefluctuation of the speech recognition has been corrected) is “Ashita noXXX ga mitai” (I want to watch tomorrow's XXX) illustrated in C of FIG.1 , the information processing device according to the embodimentadjusts the scores of the respective words“Ashita”/“no”/“XXX”/“ga”/“mi”/“ta”/“i”. An example of adjusted scores iscited below. It is needless to say that the adjusted scores are notlimited to the following example.

-   -   score of “Ashita”: “1.3”    -   score of “no”: “1”    -   score of “XXX”: “2”    -   score of “ga”: “1”    -   score of “mi”: “0.5”    -   score of “ta”: “1”    -   score of “i”: “1”

It is needless to say that a process related to adjustment of the scoresthat are set with respect to the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance according to the embodiment is not limited tothe foregoing example and the dictionary for score adjustment accordingto the embodiment is not limited to the examples illustrated in FIG. 7 .

Referring back to FIG. 6 , the third example of the process related tothe information processing method according to the embodiment will bedescribed. When the process of Step S310 is performed, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment determines whether or nota score larger than the set reference value exists in the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance (S314).

In a case in which it is not determined that the score larger than theset reference value exists in Step S314, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment searches, for example, content withthe use of the entire character string indicating the contents of theutterance (S314).

In a case in which it is determined that the score larger than the setreference value exists in Step S314, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment determines a search word on the basis of,for example, the set score (S316).

The information processing device according to the embodimentdetermines, as the search word, for example, a part of the characterstring having the largest score among the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance. For example, in the example of theadjusted scores described above obtained in a case in which thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance (or thecharacter string in which the fluctuation of the speech recognition hasbeen corrected) is “Ashita no XXX ga mitai” (I want to watch tomorrow'sXXX) illustrated in C of FIG. 1 , the score of “XXX” is the largestamong the adjusted scores. Therefore, in the foregoing case, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment determines,for example, “XXX” as the search word. Here, an example of a screen tobe displayed on the display screen in a case in which “XXX” isdetermined as the search word in Step S316 and then processes of andafter Step S318 to be described below are performed is the screenillustrated in C of FIG. 1 . It is needless to say that the screen to bedisplayed on the display screen in a case in which “XXX” is determinedas the search word in Step S316 and then the processes of and after StepS318 to be described below are performed is not limited to the screenillustrated in C of FIG. 1 .

The information processing device according to the embodiment maydetermine, as the search words, for example, a plurality of parts of thecharacter string having large scores among the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance. In a case in which theplurality of parts of the character string are used, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment searches content byperforming, for example, AND search of the plurality of parts of thecharacter string or OR search of the plurality of parts of the characterstring.

When the process of Step S316 is performed, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment performs the tense analysis on thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance (S318). Theinformation processing device according to the embodiment performs thetense analysis on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance by determining, for example, with the use of the dictionaryfor tense analysis stored in the storage unit (described below), whetheror not a word indicating tense registered in the dictionary for tenseanalysis is included in the words divided by the morphological analysisor the like.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating examples of the dictionaryfor tense analysis according to the embodiment. Here, in FIG. 8 , wordsare indicated as “Keyword” and corresponding tense is indicated as“Type”. A illustrated in FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the dictionaryfor tense analysis in a table format in which English words andcorresponding tense are associated with each other, and B illustrated inFIG. 8 illustrates an example of the dictionary for tense analysis in atable format in which Japanese words and corresponding tense areassociated with each other.

The information processing device according to the embodiment determineswhether or not a word indicating tense registered in the dictionary fortense analysis is included in the words divided by the morphologicalanalysis or the like in the process of step S104 in FIG. 2 by referringto, for example, the dictionary for tense analysis illustrated in FIG. 8. In a case in which a word indicating tense is included in the wordsdivided by the morphological analysis or the like, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment determines, for example,tense corresponding to the word as tense included in the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance. In a case in which theword indicating tense is not included in the words divided by themorphological analysis or the like, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment determines that, for example, a characterstring indicating tense is not included in the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance.

It is needless to say that the process related to the tense analysisperformed on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance according to the embodiment is not limited to the foregoingexample and the dictionary for tense analysis according to theembodiment is not limited to the examples illustrated in FIG. 8 .

Referring back to FIG. 6 , the third example of the process related tothe information processing method according to the embodiment will bedescribed. When the process of Step S318 is performed, the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment determines whether or nota character string indicating tense exists in the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance (S320). In a case in which, forexample, tense included in the character string indicating the contentsof the utterance is determined in Step S318, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment determines that the character stringindicating tense exists in the character string indicating the contentsof the utterance.

In a case in which it is not determined that the character stringindicating tense exists in the character string indicating the contentsof the utterance in Step S320, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment searches content with the use of the searchword determined in Step S316 (S322).

In a case in which it is determined that the character string indicatingtense exists in the character string indicating the contents of theutterance in Step S320, the information processing device according tothe embodiment searches content by setting the tense determined in StepS318 as a parameter with the use of the search word determined in StepS316 (S324).

For example, in a case in which the determined tense is past, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment searchescontent data (example of content) such as image data and voice datastored in a recording medium such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk.Meanwhile, for example, in a case in which the determined tense isfuture, the information processing device according to the embodimentsearches a program (example of content) of television broadcasting.

As the process related to the information processing method according tothe embodiment, the information processing device according to theembodiment performs, for example, the process illustrated in FIG. 6 inparallel with the process according to the first example illustrated inFIG. 2 or after the process according to the first example illustratedin FIG. 2 is performed, or performs the process illustrated in FIG. 6further in parallel with the process according to the second exampleillustrated in FIG. 3 .

Therefore, for example, by performing the process illustrated in FIG. 6, the information processing device according to the embodiment canexecute a process related to an application corresponding to thecontents of the utterance or a service corresponding to the contents ofthe utterance selected on a screen, such as the screen illustrated in Cof FIG. 1 , on which the application corresponding to the contents ofthe utterance and the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance are displayed.

Note that the process related to the information processing methodaccording to the third example of the embodiment is not limited to theexample illustrated in FIG. 6 . For example, it is possible that theinformation processing device according to the embodiment does notperform the process related to tense in Steps S318, S312, and S324 inFIG. 6 .

The information processing device according to the embodiment performs,as the process related to the information processing method according tothe embodiment, for example, the process according to the first exampledescribed in (A), the process according to the second example describedin (B), and the process according to the third example described in (C).It is needless to say that the process related to the informationprocessing method according to the embodiment is not limited to theforegoing processes.

(Information Processing Device According to Embodiment)

Next, an example of the configuration of the information processingdevice according to the embodiment which is capable of performing theprocesses related to the information processing method according to theembodiment described above will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configurationof an information processing device 100 according to the embodiment. Theinformation processing device 100 includes, for example, a communicationunit 102 and a control unit 104.

The information processing device 100 may include, for example, aread-only memory (ROM; not illustrated), a random access memory (RAM;not illustrated), a storage unit (not illustrated), an operation unit(not illustrated) which a user can operate, and a display unit (notillustrated) which displays various screens on a display screen. In theinformation processing device 100, for example, the foregoingconstituent elements are connected by a bus serving as a datatransmission path.

Here, the ROM (not illustrated) stores a program used by the controlunit 104 or control data such as arithmetic parameters. The RAM (notillustrated) temporarily stores a program executed by the control unit104.

The storage unit (not illustrated) is a storage unit included in theinformation processing device 100 and stores various kinds of data, suchas, various kinds of dictionaries and applications. Here, examples ofthe storage unit (not illustrated) include a magnetic recording mediumsuch as a hard disk and a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory.The storage unit (not illustrated) may be detachably mounted on theinformation processing device 100.

An example of the operation unit (not illustrated) includes an operationinput device to be described below and an example of the display unit(not illustrated) includes a display device to be described below.

[Example of Hardware Configuration of Information Processing Device 100]

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of the information processing device 100 according to theembodiment. The information processing device 100 includes, for example,an MPU 150, a ROM 152, a RAM 154, a recording medium 156, an input andoutput interface 158, an operation input device 160, a display device162, and a communication interface 164. In the information processingdevice 100, for example, the constituent elements are connected by a bus166 serving as a data transmission path.

The MPU 150 includes, for example, a micro processing unit (MPU) andvarious processing circuits and functions as the control unit 104 thatcontrols the entire information processing device 100. In theinformation processing device 100, the MPU 150 serves as, for example,an analysis unit 110, a display control unit 112, a log recordingcontrol unit 114, and a processing unit 116 to be described below.

The ROM 152 stores control data such as calculation parameters and aprogram used by the MPU 150. The RAM 154 temporarily stores, forexample, a program executed by the MPU 150.

The recording medium 156 functions as the storage unit (not illustrated)and stores various kinds of data, such as various kinds of dictionariesand applications. Here, examples of the recording medium 156 include amagnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a non-volatile memorysuch as a flash memory. The recording medium 156 may be detachablymounted on the information processing device 100.

The input and output interface 158 connects, for example, the operationinput device 160 or the display device 162. The operation input device160 functions as an operation unit (not illustrated) and the displaydevice 162 functions a display unit (not illustrated). Here, examples ofthe input and output interface 158 include a Universal Serial Bus (USB)terminal, a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) terminal, a High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) terminal, and variousprocessing circuits. For example, the operation input device 160 isincluded in the information processing device 100 and is connected tothe input and output interface 158 in the information processing device100. Examples of the operation input device 160 include a button, adirection key, a rotation type selector such as a jog dial, and acombination thereof. For example, the display device 162 is included inthe information processing device 100 and is connected to the input andoutput interface 158 in the information processing device 100. Examplesof the display device 162 include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and anorganic electroluminescence (EL) display (also called an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) display).

It is needless to say that the input and output interface 158 can beconnected to an external device such as an operation input device (forexample, a keyboard or a mouse), a display device, or the like servingas an external device of the information processing device 100. Examplesof the display device 162 may be a device through which display and auser's operation are possible, such as a touch screen.

The communication interface 164 is a communication unit included in theinformation processing device 100 and functions as the communicationunit 102 that performs wireless/wired communication with an externaldevice such as a device to be controlled and a server via a network (ordirectly). Here, examples of the communication interface 164 include acommunication antenna and a radio frequency (RF) circuit (wirelesscommunication), an IEEE 802.15.1 port and a transmission and receptioncircuit (wireless communication), an IEEE 802.11b port and atransmission and reception circuit (wireless communication), and a localarea network (LAN) terminal and a transmission and reception circuit(wired communication).

The information processing device 100 includes, for example, theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 10 and performs the process related tothe information processing method according to the embodiment. Thehardware configuration of the information processing device 100according to the embodiment is not limited to the configurationillustrated in FIG. 10 .

For example, in a case where the information processing device 100communicates with an external device such as a device to be controlledor a server via an external communication device connected via, forexample, the input and output interface 158, the information processingdevice 100 does not necessarily need to include the communicationinterface 164.

The information processing device 100 can be also configured so as notto include, for example, the operation device 160 or the display device162.

The information processing device 100 may further include, for example,the voice input device such as a microphone and an amplifier circuit foramplifying a voice signal transmitted from the voice input device.

Referring back to FIG. 9 , an example of the configuration of theinformation processing device 100 will be described. The communicationunit 102 is a communication unit included in the information processingdevice 100 and performs wired and wireless communication with anexternal device such as a device to be controlled and a server via anetwork (or directly). The communication of the communication unit 102is controlled by, for example, the control unit 104.

Here, examples of the communication unit 102 include a communicationantenna and an RF circuit, and a LAN terminal and a transmission andreception circuit. The configuration of the communication unit 102 isnot limited to the foregoing configuration. For example, thecommunication unit 102 can have a configuration corresponding to anystandard capable of performing communication, such as a USB terminal anda transmission and reception circuit or any configuration capable ofcommunicating with an external device via a network.

The control unit 104 includes, for example, an MPU and controls theentire information processing device 100. The control unit 104 includes,for example, the analysis unit 110, the display control unit 112, thelog recording control unit 114, and the processing unit 116 andinitiatively performs the process related to the information processingmethod according to the embodiment.

The analysis unit 110 initiatively performs the process (1) (analysisprocess) and analyzes a character string indicating contents ofutterance obtained as a result of speech recognition. Here, thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance to beprocessed according to the embodiment is obtained in such a way that,for example, the constituent elements included in the informationprocessing device 100, such as the control unit 104, perform a processrelated to speech recognition on voice data showing the contents of theutterance. However, a method of acquiring the character string of thecontents of the utterance to be processed according to the embodiment isnot limited to the foregoing example. For example, as described above,the information processing device 100 may acquire, from an externaldevice such as a server, data showing the character string of thecontents of the utterance obtained as a result of a process related tospeech recognition in the external device, thereby obtaining thecharacter string of the contents of the utterance to be processed.

The analysis unit 110 may correct fluctuation of the speech recognitionby, for example, replacing a word divided by the morphological analysisor the like with the use of the dictionary for fluctuation absorptionstored in the storage unit (not illustrated).

The analysis unit 110 may perform the action analysis and the tenseanalysis on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance with the use of, for example, dictionaries.

Further, for example, the analysis unit 110 can also set a score withrespect to the character string indicating the contents of the utteranceon the basis of an analysis result. The analysis unit 110 sets the scoreby performing, for example, the processes of Steps S308 and S310 in FIG.6 .

The display control unit 112 initiatively performs the process (2)(display control process) and displays the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance and the analysis result in the analysisunit 110 on the display screen.

The display control unit 112 may display the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance so that, for example, the entire characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance or each word, divided bythe morphological analysis or the like, in the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance is editable.

In a case in which the fluctuation of the speech recognition iscorrected in the analysis unit 110, the display control unit 112displays, for example, the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance in which the fluctuation of the speech recognition hasbeen corrected.

The display control unit 112 may display an application corresponding tothe contents of the utterance and/or a service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance on the display screen so that the applicationand/or the service are/is emphasized on the basis of the analysis resultin the analysis unit 110, as illustrated in, for example, C2 in C ofFIG. 1 .

More specifically, in a case in which, for example, the action analysisis performed on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance in the analysis unit 110, the display control unit 112emphasizes an application and/or a service displayed on the displayscreen, for example, on the basis of a result of the action analysisincluded in the analysis result in the analysis unit 110.

In a case in which the application corresponding to the contents of theutterance and/or the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance are/is displayed on the display screen, the display controlunit 112 may determine candidates of applications to be displayed on thedisplay screen and/or candidates of services to be displayed on thedisplay screen, for example, on the basis of performance information ofa device to be controlled.

The log recording control unit 114 initiatively performs the logrecording control process and causes the analysis result in the analysisunit 110 as a log. Examples of a target on which the log recordingcontrol unit 114 records the log include the storage unit (notillustrated), an external recording medium, and an external devicecommunicable via a network (or directly). In a case in which the log isrecorded in the external device, for example, the log recording controlunit 114 causes the communication unit 102 to transmit log data to theexternal device.

The processing unit 116 initiatively performs the execution process, andexecutes a process related to a selected application corresponding tothe contents of the utterance or a selected service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance.

For example, in a case in which a score is set in the analysis unit 110,the processing unit 116 may perform the process by determining, on thebasis of a result of comparison between a set reference value and theset score, a character string for use in execution of the applicationcorresponding to the contents of the utterance or execution of theprocess related to the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance. More specifically, in a case in which, for example, a scorelarger than the reference value does not exist, the processing unit 116uses, in the process, the entire character string indicating thecontents of the utterance. Meanwhile, in a case in which a score/scoreslarger than the reference value exists/exist, the processing unit 116uses, in the process, one or two or more parts of the character stringhaving the large score/large scores among the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance.

In a case in which, for example, the tense analysis is performed in theanalysis unit 110 and a result of the tense analysis in the analysisunit 110 indicates that wording indicating tense is included in thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance, theprocessing unit 116 may use, in the process, the wording indicating thetense included in the character string indicating the contents of theutterance as in, for example, Step S324 of FIG. 6 .

The control unit 104 includes, for example, the analysis unit 110, thedisplay control unit 112, the log recording control unit 114, and theprocessing unit 116, and therefore initiatively performs the processrelated to the information processing method according to theembodiment.

With, for example, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 , theinformation processing device 100 performs the process related to theinformation processing method according to the embodiment (for example,the process (1) (analysis process), the process (2) (display controlprocess), the execution process, and the log recording control process).

Therefore, with, for example, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 ,the information processing device 100 can improve usability for a user.Further, with, for example, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 ,the information processing device 100 can exert an effect obtained byperforming the process related to the information processing methodaccording to the embodiment described above.

Note that the configuration of the information processing device 100according to the embodiment is not limited to the configurationillustrated in FIG. 9 .

For example, the information processing device 100 according to theembodiment does not necessarily include both or one of the log recordingcontrol unit 114 and the processing unit 116. Even in a case in whichthe information processing device 100 according to the embodiment doesnot include both or one of the log recording control unit 114 and theprocessing unit 116, the information processing device 100 according tothe embodiment can initiatively perform the process (1) (analysisprocess) and the process (2) (display control process) related to theinformation processing method according to the embodiment.

Therefore, even in a case in which the information processing device 100according to the embodiment does not include both or one of the logrecording control unit 114 and the processing unit 116, the informationprocessing device 100 according to the embodiment can improve usabilityfor a user.

For example, in the information processing device 100 according to theembodiment, one or two or more units of the analysis unit 110, thedisplay control unit 112, the log recording control unit 114, and theprocessing unit 116 illustrated in FIG. 9 and the control unit 104 canbe separately provided (for example, can be achieved by individualprocessing circuits).

In a case in which, for example, the information processing device 100according to the embodiment communicates with an external device such asa device to be controlled or a server via an external communicationdevice, the information processing device 100 does not necessarily needto include the communication unit 102.

As described above, the information processing device according to theembodiment performs, for example, the process (1) (analysis process) andthe process (2) (display control process) as the process related to theinformation processing method according to the embodiment.

Here, the information processing device according to the embodimentdisplays the character string of the contents of the utterance obtainedas a result of the speech recognition on the display screen in theprocess (2) (display control process), and therefore a user who hasperformed the utterance can visually grasp how the utterance has beensubjected to speech recognition. In the process (2) (display controlprocess), the information processing device according to the embodimentdisplays the analysis result of the character string of the contents ofthe utterance in the process (1) (analysis process) together with thecharacter string of the contents of the utterance, and therefore a userwho has performed the utterance can visually grasp how the utterance hasbeen analyzed.

Therefore, the information processing device according to the embodimentcan improve usability for a user.

For example, the information processing device according to theembodiment displays the character string indicating the contents of theutterance on the display screen so that the character string is editablein the process (2) (display control process).

Thus, by displaying the character string indicating the contents of theutterance so that the character string is editable in the process (2)(display control process), for example, the information processingdevice according to the embodiment can encourage a user to correct thecontents of the utterance and can therefore cause own device(information processing device according to the embodiment) or anexternal device to perform the process more accurately. Further, bydisplaying the character string indicating the contents of the utteranceso that the character string is editable in the process (2) (displaycontrol process), for example, a situation in which a user needs toperform utterance many times to achieve an action desired by the user isprevented.

Therefore, by displaying the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance in the process (2) (display control process) so that thecharacter string is editable, the information processing deviceaccording to the embodiment can further improve usability for a user.

In the process (2) (display control process), the information processingdevice according to the embodiment displays the applicationcorresponding to the contents of the utterance and/or the servicecorresponding to the contents of the utterance on the basis of theanalysis result in the process (1) (analysis process) on the displayscreen as illustrated in, for example, C2 in C of FIG. 1 . Further, theinformation processing device according to the embodiment displays, forexample, the application corresponding to the contents of the utteranceand/or the service corresponding to the contents of the utterance on thedisplay screen so that the application and/or the service are/isemphasized.

As described above, by displaying the application corresponding to thecontents of the utterance and/or the service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance on the basis of the analysis result on thedisplay screen, for example, it is possible to achieve display moresuitable for a device to be controlled. The information processingdevice according to the embodiment displays the analysis result of thecontents of the utterance not in one format but in a more suitableformat, and therefore ambiguity of the utterance can be absorbed and newcontent can be found by a user.

Therefore, by displaying the application corresponding to the contentsof the utterance and/or the service corresponding to the contents of theutterance on the display screen on the basis of the analysis result inthe process (2) (display control process), the information processingdevice according to the embodiment can further improve usability for auser.

In the foregoing description, the embodiment has been describedexemplifying the information processing device. However, the embodimentis not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment is applicable tovarious devices such as a tablet device, communication devices such as amobile phone and a smartphone, a video/music playback device (orvideo/music recording and playback device), a game console, a computersuch as a personal computer (PC), and a remote controller. Theembodiment is also applicable to, for example, a processing integratedcircuit (IC) that can be incorporated into the foregoing devices.

(Information Processing System According to Embodiment)

As described above, the information processing device according to theembodiment can also process a character string indicating contents ofutterance obtained as a result of a process of speech recognition in anexternal device such as a server. In view of this, next, an example ofthe information processing system according to the embodiment in whichthe information processing device according to the embodiment canprocess a character string indicating contents of utterance obtained asa result of a process of speech recognition in an external device willbe described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of aninformation processing system 1000 according to the embodiment.

The information processing system 1000 includes, for example, theinformation processing device 100, a speech recognition processingdevice 200, devices to be controlled 300A, 300B, . . . (hereinafter,also generally referred to as “device 300 to be controlled”) whosefunctions are controlled by the information processing device 100. Theinformation processing device 100 and the speech recognition processingdevice 200 communicate with each other via, for example, a network 400.Examples of the network 400 include a wired network such as a LAN or aWAN, a wireless network such as a wireless LAN or a wireless WAN via abase station, and the Internet using a communication protocol such asTCP/IP.

Note that FIG. 11 illustrates an example where the informationprocessing system 1000 includes the plurality of devices to becontrolled 300. However, the information processing system according tothe embodiment is not limited to the foregoing example. For example, theinformation processing system according to the embodiment may include asingle device 300 to be controlled. In a case in which a target whosefunction is controlled by the information processing device 100 is owndevice (information processing device 100), for example, the informationprocessing system according to the embodiment does not necessarilyinclude the devices to be controlled 300A, 300B, . . . illustrated inFIG. 11 .

The speech recognition processing device 200 performs, on voice datashowing contents of utterance, a process related to speech recognitionsuch as a process using a statistical method or a process using thehidden Markov model. The speech recognition processing device 200transmits, to the information processing device 100, data showing acharacter string of the contents of the utterance obtained as a resultof the process related to the speech recognition performed on the voicedata.

The speech recognition processing device 200 manages, for example, datarelated to a dictionary (hereinafter, referred to as “dictionary data”)according to the embodiment. Note that, in the information processingsystem according to the embodiment, another device such as a server maymanage the dictionary data. By managing the dictionary in an externaldevice such as the speech recognition processing device 200, forexample, a behavior in the process (1) (analysis process) in theinformation processing device 100 can be changed more easily.Hereinafter, an example where the speech recognition processing device200 manages the dictionary data will be described.

Further, the speech recognition processing device 200 manages, forexample, log data. Note that, in the information processing systemaccording to the embodiment, another device such as a server may managethe log data or the information processing device 100 may manage the logdata. Hereinafter, the example where the speech recognition processingdevice 200 manages the log data will be described.

Here, the speech recognition processing device 200 has the hardwareconfiguration illustrated in, for example, FIG. 10 . However, thehardware configuration of the speech recognition processing device 200is not limited to the foregoing example.

The information processing device 100 performs the process related tothe information processing method according to the embodiment describedabove on the data showing the character string of the contents of theutterance transmitted from the speech recognition processing device 200.

The device 300 to be controlled, for example, performs a process on thebasis of a control command transmitted from the information processingdevice 100 and a function thereof is controlled by the informationprocessing device 100. Here, the device 300 to be controlled has thehardware configuration illustrated in, for example, FIG. 10 . However,the hardware configuration of the device 300 to be controlled is notlimited to the foregoing example.

With the configuration illustrated in, for example, FIG. 11 , it ispossible to achieve the information processing system in which theinformation processing device 100 can process the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance obtained as a result of theprocess of the speech recognition performed in the speech recognitionprocessing device 200 (example of external device).

Next, an example of a process in the information processing system 1000will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating anexample of a process in the information processing system 1000 accordingto the embodiment. Here, a process of Step S414 in FIG. 12 correspondsto the process (1) (analysis process), and a process of Step S418 inFIG. 12 corresponds to the process (2) (display control process). StepsS416 and S420 in FIG. 12 indicate an example of the execution processaccording to the embodiment, and Step S422 in FIG. 12 corresponds to thelog recording control process according to the embodiment.

The information processing device 100 and the device 300 to becontrolled perform a connection process (S400). Here, the process ofStep S400 is performed in such a way that, for example, the informationprocessing device 100 transmits a connection request to the device 300to be controlled on the basis of user's connection operation.

When the information processing device 100 and the device 300 to becontrolled are connected in Step S400, the information processing device100 specifies performance of the device 300 to be controlled (S402). Theinformation processing device 100 transmits, for example, a performanceinformation transmission request for instructing transmission ofperformance information to the device 300 to be controlled and specifiesthe performance of the device 300 to be controlled on the basis of theperformance information transmitted from the device 300 to be controlledin response to the performance information transmission request.

The information processing device 100 transmits, for example, adictionary update check request to the speech recognition processingdevice 200 (S404).

The speech recognition processing device 200 that has received thedictionary update check request transmitted from the informationprocessing device 100 in Step S404 checks dictionary data stored in therecording medium 156 or the like. In a case in which the dictionary datais updated, the speech recognition processing device 200 transmits thedictionary data to the information processing device 100 (S406). Byperforming the process of Step S406, a dictionary according to theembodiment stored in, for example, the storage unit (not illustrated)included in the information processing device 100 is updated. Here, forexample, the speech recognition processing device 200 may transmit thedictionary data showing the entire dictionary or may transmit only datacorresponding to an updated part as the dictionary data.

When voice data of utterance is obtained, the information processingdevice 100 transmits the voice data to the speech recognition processingdevice 200 (S408).

The speech recognition processing device 200 that has received the voicedata transmitted from the information processing device 100 in StepS408, performs a process related to speech recognition on the voice data(S410). Then, the speech recognition processing device 200 transmits, tothe information processing device 100, data showing a character stringof contents of the utterance obtained as a result of the process relatedto the speech recognition (S412).

The information processing device 100 that has received the data showingthe character string of the contents of the utterance transmitted fromthe speech recognition processing device 200 in Step S412 performs ananalysis process on the data showing the character string of thecontents of the utterance (S414).

The information processing device 100 searches content on the basis ofan analysis result in Step S414 (S416). Here, examples of a target whosecontent is searched by the information processing device 100 include thestorage unit (not illustrated), an external recording medium such as anoptical disk, and an external device such as the speech recognitionprocessing device 200.

As a specific example, the information processing device 100 performs,in cooperation with content search engine in an external device such asthe speech recognition processing device 200, for example, programsearch in a connected television receiver (example of device 300 to becontrolled) or search of a moving image and music of a cooperativeservice on the Internet. Further, for example, the informationprocessing device 100 communicates with the connected televisionreceiver (example of device 300 to be controlled) and searches recordedtitle content in the television receiver, an application of thetelevision receiver, and the like. Furthermore, for example, theinformation processing device 100 communicates with a PC (example ofdevice 300 to be controlled) in a home network and searches image data(data showing a moving image and a still image), music data, and thelike stored in a recording medium included in the PC. Still further, theinformation processing device 100 performs, for example, Web search. Theinformation processing device 100 may also search, for example, a diskinserted into a disk player (example of device 300 to be controlled).

The information processing device 100 displays the character string ofthe contents of the utterance and the analysis result in Step S414 onthe display screen (S418). Further, for example, the informationprocessing device 100 may display an application corresponding to thecontents of the utterance and/or a service corresponding to the contentsof the utterance on the display screen on the basis of the analysisresult in Step S414 and a search result in Step S416, as illustrated inC2 in C of FIG. 1 .

For example, in a case in which it is detected that operation (operationfor causing the device 300 to be controlled to perform an action) isperformed on the application or the service on the screen displayed inStep S418, the information processing device 100 transmits a controlcommand corresponding to the operation to the device 300 to becontrolled (S420).

The information processing device 100 also transmits, to the speechrecognition processing device 200, for example, a log of the analysisresult in Step S414 or log data showing a log in each process (S422).

The process illustrated in, for example, FIG. 12 is performed in theinformation processing system 1000. Here, even in a case in which theprocess illustrated in FIG. 12 is performed, the information processingdevice 100 can perform the process related to the information processingmethod according to the embodiment described above. Therefore, byperforming the process illustrated in, for example, FIG. 12 , theinformation processing system that can improve usability for a user isachieved. It is needless to say that the process in the informationprocessing system 1000 according to the embodiment is not limited to theprocess illustrated in FIG. 12 .

The foregoing description has been described exemplifying the speechrecognition processing device 200 as a constituent element of theinformation processing system according to the embodiment. However, theembodiment is not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment isapplicable to various devices such as computers including a PC and aserver. The embodiment is also applicable to, for example, a processingIC that can be incorporated into the foregoing devices.

The process related to the speech recognition processing device 200according to the embodiment may be achieved by a system including aplurality of devices on the assumption of connection to a network (orcommunication between devices) such as cloud computing.

The foregoing description has been described exemplifying the device 300to be controlled as a constituent element of the information processingsystem according to the embodiment. However, the embodiment is notlimited to this embodiment. The embodiment is applicable to variousdevices such as a television receiver, computers such as a PC and aserver, a video/music playback device (or video/music recording andplayback device), and a game console. The embodiment is also applicableto, for example, a processing IC that can be incorporated into theforegoing devices.

(Program According to Embodiment)

A program for causing a computer to function as the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment (for example, programscapable of causing execution of the processes related to the informationprocessing method according to the embodiment such as “the process (1)(analysis process) and the process (2) (display control process)”, “theprocess (1) (analysis process), the process (2) (display controlprocess), and the execution process”, “the process (1) (analysisprocess), the process (2) (display control process), and the logrecording control process”, and “the process (1) (analysis process), theprocess (2) (display control process), the execution process, and thelog recording control process”) is executed in the computer. This makesit possible to improve usability for a user. Further, because theprogram for causing the computer to function as the informationprocessing device according to the embodiment is executed in thecomputer, it is possible to exert an effect obtained by performing theprocess related to the information processing method according to theembodiment described above.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

For example, the program (computer program) causing the computer tofunction as the information processing device according to theembodiment has been provided above.

However, the embodiment can also provide a recording medium storing theforegoing program.

The above-described configuration is an example of the embodiment and,of course, pertains to the technical scope of an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1)

An information processing device including:

an analysis unit configured to analyze a character string indicatingcontents of utterance obtained as a result of speech recognition; and

a display control unit configured to display the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance and an analysis result on adisplay screen.

(2)

The information processing device according to (1),

wherein the display control unit displays the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance in a state in which thecharacter string is editable.

(3)

The information processing device according to (1) or (2),

wherein the analysis unit corrects fluctuation of the speechrecognition, and

wherein the display control unit displays the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance in which the fluctuation hasbeen corrected.

(4)

The information processing device according to any one of (1) to (3),

wherein the display control unit displays an application correspondingto the contents of the utterance and/or a service corresponding to thecontents of the utterance on a display screen in a manner that theapplication and/or the service are/is emphasized on the basis of theanalysis result.

(5)

The information processing device according to (4),

wherein the analysis unit performs action analysis on the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance, and

wherein the display control unit displays the application and/or theservice on the display screen in a manner that the application and/orthe service are/is emphasized on the basis of a result of the actionanalysis included in the analysis result.

(6)

The information processing device according to (4) or (5),

wherein the display control unit determines a candidate of theapplication to be displayed on the display screen and/or a candidate ofthe service to be displayed on the display screen on the basis ofperformance information indicating performance that the device has.

(7)

The information processing device according to any one of (4) to (6),further including:

a processing unit configured to execute a process related to a selectedapplication corresponding to the contents of the utterance or a selectedservice corresponding to the contents of the utterance.

(8)

The information processing device according to (7),

wherein the analysis unit sets a score with respect to the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance on the basis of a resultof syntactic analysis performed on the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance or on the basis of a result of semanticanalysis performed on the result of the syntactic analysis and thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance, and

wherein the processing unit

-   -   uses, in the process, the entire character string indicating the        contents of the utterance in a case in which the score larger        than a reference value or the score equal to or larger than the        reference value does not exist, and    -   uses, in the process, one or two or more parts of the character        string having a large score among the character string        indicating the contents of the utterance in a case in which the        score larger than the reference value or the score equal to or        larger than the reference value exists.

(9)

The information processing device according to (7) or (8),

wherein the analysis unit performs tense analysis on the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance, and

wherein, in a case in which a result of the tense analysis indicatesthat wording indicating tense is included in the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance, the processing unit uses, inthe process, the wording indicating tense included in the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance.

(10)

The information processing device according to any on of (1) to (9),further including:

a log recording control unit configured to cause the analysis result tobe recorded as a log.

(11)

An information processing method including:

a step of analyzing a character string indicating contents of utteranceobtained as a result of speech recognition; and

a step of displaying the character string indicating the contents of theutterance and an analysis result on a display screen.

(12)

A program for causing a computer to execute:

a step of analyzing a character string indicating contents of utteranceobtained as a result of speech recognition; and

a step of displaying the character string indicating the contents of theutterance and an analysis result on a display screen.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   100 information processing device    -   102 communication unit    -   104 control unit    -   110 analysis unit    -   112 display control unit    -   114 log recording control unit    -   116 processing unit    -   200 speech recognition processing device    -   300, 300A, 300B device to be controlled    -   400 network    -   1000 information processing system

1. An information processing device comprising: processing circuitryconfigured to analyze a character string indicating contents ofutterance to obtain a word included in the character string indicatingan action, the character string being obtained as a result of speechrecognition performed on the utterance; and display control circuitryconfigured to display the character string indicating the contents ofthe utterance and to display an application and/or a servicecorresponding to the contents of the utterance on a display screen,wherein the application and/or the service corresponds to the action ofthe analysis result, and the processing circuitry is configured toexecute a process related to the application or a service correspondingto the contents of the utterance.
 2. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the display control circuitry isconfigured to identify the application or the service by association ofthe action of the analysis result with the application or the service.3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay control circuitry is configured to determine a candidate of theapplication to be displayed on the display screen and/or a candidate ofthe service to be displayed on the display screen on the basis ofperformance information indicating performance of the device.
 4. Theinformation processing device according to claim 1, wherein thedisplayed character string indicating the contents of utterance iseditable by an input operation.
 5. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured toset a score with respect to the character string indicating the contentsof the utterance on the basis of a result of syntactic analysisperformed on the character string indicating the contents of theutterance or on the basis of a result of semantic analysis performed onthe result of the syntactic analysis and the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance.
 6. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is configured toexecute a content search process that uses the character stringindicating the contents of the utterance, as a process related to theselected service corresponding to the contents of the utterance, in acase in which the score larger than a reference value or the score equalto or larger than the reference value does not exist, the processingcircuitry is configured to execute the content search process using theentire character string indicating the contents of the utterance, and ina case in which the score larger than the reference value or the scoreequal to or larger than the reference value exists, the processingcircuitry is configured to execute the content search process using oneor more parts of the character string having the larger score among thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance.
 7. Theinformation processing device according to claim 6, wherein theprocessing circuitry is configured to determine whether or not a wordindicating tense is included in the character string indicating thecontents of the utterance, and in a case in which the determinationindicates that a word indicating tense is included in the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance, the processingcircuitry is configured to execute the content search process on thebasis of the word indicating the tense.
 8. An information processingmethod comprising: analyzing a character string indicating contents ofutterance to obtain a word included in the character string indicatingan action, the character string being obtained as result of speechrecognition performed on the utterance; and displaying the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance, and displaying anapplication and/or a service corresponding to the contents of theutterance on a display screen, wherein the application and/or a servicecorresponds to the action of the analysis result, and a process relatedto the application or a service corresponding to the contents of theutterance is executed.
 9. The information processing method according toclaim 8, further comprising identifying the application or the serviceby association of the action of the analysis result with the applicationor the service.
 10. The information processing method according to claim8, wherein a candidate of the application to be displayed on the displayscreen and/or a candidate of the service to be displayed on the displayscreen is determined on the basis of performance information.
 11. Theinformation processing method according to claim 8, wherein thedisplayed character string indicating the contents of utterance iseditable by an input operation.
 12. The information processing methodaccording to claim 8, further comprising setting a score with respect tothe character string indicating the contents of the utterance on thebasis of a result of syntactic analysis performed on the characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance or on the basis of aresult of semantic analysis performed on the result of the syntacticanalysis and the character string indicating the contents of theutterance.
 13. The information processing method according to claim 12,further comprising: executing a content search process that uses thecharacter string indicating the contents of the utterance, as a processrelated to the selected service corresponding to the contents of theutterance, wherein in a case in which the score larger than a referencevalue or the score equal to or larger than the reference value does notexist, the content search process is executed using the entire characterstring indicating the contents of the utterance, and in a case in whichthe score larger than the reference value or the score equal to orlarger than the reference value exists, the content search process isexecuted using one or more parts of the character string having thelarger score among the character string indicating the contents of theutterance.
 14. The information processing method according to claim 13,further comprising: determining whether or not a word indicating tenseis included in the character string indicating the contents of theutterance, wherein, in a case in which the determination indicates thata word indicating tense is included in the character string indicatingthe contents of the utterance, the content search process is executed onthe basis of the word indicating the tense.